Vintage Ballantine beer coasters

“Vintage” refers to pieces manufactured within the last 100 years and can include items made as recently as the 1980s, according to the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act’s definition.

Ballantine Brewery

Ballantine was founded in Newark, New Jersey, US in 1840 by Scottish emigrant Peter Ballantine.

Best known for its lager and ale, the brewery also produced a range of speciality beers. It was the sixth largest brewery in the US in 1879.

It was originally named Patterson & Ballantine Brewing Company, becoming P Ballantine and Sons in 1857.

The name remained until the brewery closed in 1972, at which point the Falstaff Brewing Corporation purchased its range of beverages.

Ballantine Ale has been owned by the Pabst Brewing Company since 2005. Miller Brewing Company produces the beverage.

Vintage Ballantine beer coasters

Vintage Ballantine beer coasters have been produced in a variety of styles throughout the decades of the 20th century.

Limited edition varieties are most popular with collectors.

A 1940’s coaster advertising Ballantine and a radio show the company sponsored, called “3-Ring Time”, is one such limited-edition item.

Ballantine’s association with several baseball teams has also produced a number of collectible coasters. Three such coasters were produced in 1941, for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers and St Louis Cardinals.

How much are Ballantine beer coasters worth?

1941 St Louis Cardinals baseball coasters, sponsored by Ballantine, can sell for between $10 and $13 on eBay in October 2011.

A 1940’s coaster depicting two Brooklyn Dodgers baseball players sold for $26 on eBay in September 2011.

More recent, commonplace Ballantine coasters achieve significantly less than these figures.